Shipping-crate.



A. F. GOGSWELL.

SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 18, 1913.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

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ASA F. COGSWELL, 0F KIRWIN, KANSAS.

SHIPPING-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 19114.

Application filed March 18, 1913. Serial No. 755,079.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Asa F. COGSWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kirwin, in the county of Phillips and. State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shipping-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a shipping crate; the object of the invention being to provide a case suitable for transmission of eggs or fruit by parcel post.

Specific objects of provide air'sealed, individual containers for the eggs; to provide flexible and waterproof containers for the eggs; and to provide an outer case of such construction as to be nonspreading, resistant to crushing, yet light in weight.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a case embodying the invention, the lid being open and the holders filled in shipping condition. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of one of the egg-holder frames removed from the case. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the case and frames, the lid being closed and fastened. Fig. 4L is a detail view of one of the sacks detached.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a rectangular case 1, which is shown as made of hard fiber, though wood may be employed. Said case comprises a bottom 1, sides 2, ends 3, and a lid 4. The lid is attached to the ease by hinges 5, preferably, of flexible material, and is formed with flanges 6 and 7 on its sides and longitudinal edge, respectively. To the last-named portion of the lid I attach a plurality of tapes 8, having free ends 9, the inner surfaces of which are gummed, so that by gumming said ends to the case as shown in Fig. 3 the lid may be fastened and sealed in closed position.

Within each end of the case is secured (in any suitable manner) a rectangular wooden frame 10 which is, preferably, hollow. To receive the ends of two longitudinal frames 12, four vertical, dovetail grooves 13 are cut in each frame 10, the upper and lower grooves being alined. Each of the frames 12 is constructed with an upper longitudinal member 12, and a lower longitudinal member 14, connected by vertical end members 15. Said end members are respectively provided with dovetail tenons 16 and 17 which fit,

the invention are: To

slidably, the dovetail grooves in the frames 10. The dovetail tenons and grooves are provided in order that when the frames 12 are in position the end frames 10 are tied together by the longitudinal frames. In other words, spreading apart of the ends of the case is prevented. The tenons 16 and their grooves 13 are made larger than the opposite tenons l7 and their grooves; the reason for which will hereinafter appear.

The upper member 12 of each egg-holder frame is provided with a series of upwardly pro ecting, ointed pins 18.

The egg lolders or containers consist of a plurality of sacks 19, each designed for holding one egg. These sacks are made of any suitable material, which is desirably permeated with some waterproof material that will not crack or deteriorate. The lower edges of the sacks are fastened to the lower frame members 14, by tacks 20 or otherwise. These portions of the sacks may overlap one another.

When the sacks have been filled with eggs, their upper edges are closed, stretched over the edge of frame-members 12, and pushed down upon the pins 18 which thereby hold the sacks in upright position and hold their mouths closed. The aforesaid waterproof material in the fabric will cause the sack mouths to be practically air-tight when in this posit-ion.

It will be observed that the rows of sacks will hang at one side of the frames rather than below their center, thus leaving spaces 21 between the eggs and the case walls 2. As the frames may be filled with eggs when removed from the case, said frames might be replaced in reverse positions; but such misplacement is prevented by the fact of the unequal sizes of the tenons at the ends of the frames as previously described. The spaces 21 protect the eggs from breakage in case of heavy pressure being applied to the case walls 2.

It will now be apparent that this device possesses the features of advantage set forth at the beginning of the specification.

Modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is obvious that the described crate is adapted for the transportation of fine fruits such as peaches, etc., which require absolute protection from bruising in order to retain their market value.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat-- ent, is:

1. In a shipping crate, a' case having ends, a pair of upright frames permanently arranged in the ends of the case, a longitudinal frame adapted to extend between and connect said. end frames; said longitudinal frame having vertical dovetail tenons upon the ends thereof, and said end frames having dovetail grooves adapted to receive said tenons; the groove and tencn at one end of the crate being of different size to the groove and tenon at the opposite end.

2. In a shipping crate, a case, a longitudinal upright frame, a series of individual egg-holders suspended in said frame and at one side thereof, dovetail tenons on the ends of said frame, and members at the end of the case having dovetail grooves adapted to receive said tenons; the grooves anditenone at opposite ends being unequal in size.

3. In a shipping crate, a case, a longitudinal frame removably-arranged Within said case, a series of pins projecting from the upper part of said longitudinal frame, and a series of sacks having their bottoms secured to the lower portion of said frame and their upper open ends adapted to be folded over the upper side of the frame and secured by the pins, each sack being adapted to hold a single egg, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in the presence of tWo Wlt-IIQSSGS ASA F. COGSWELL.

Witnesses F. G. F IscHER, L. J. FISCHER.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). G. 

